Shows / Tough Discussions
Tough Discussions
Breaking down mental health so that we can find the humanity that we lost along the way.
coachzaidismail.substack.com
Episodes
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 037 - It takes two
The secret to healthy relationships lies in understanding the dynamic that is shared, rather than the roles that are being played. Focusing only on rights and…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 036 - How trust is breached
The greatest blind spot of humans, I believe, is our inability to recognise the impact that we have because we’re so focused on the impact that we want to…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 035 - Mental Health Myths
While my approach in this episode has been deliberately light and deliberately exasperated by the insanity of it all, the seriousness of the problematic themes…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 034 - Gratitude is not found in journaling
Gratitude is far too often confused with appreciation which is nothing more than an acknowledgement of the blessings that we have. Gratitude goes much deeper…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 033 - The reality of generational cycles
Continuing on the theme of accountability for who we are, the fixation on generational trauma or cycles (I prefer to see it as cycles) is yet another…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 032 - The accountability dilemma
We’ve lost sight of the simplicity of being human and replaced it with the complexity of dehumanising each other in our efforts to feel better about ourselves…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 031 - Life is like a practical joke
We complicate life when we try to intellectually and emotionally reprocess everything that we experienced in the hope that we will be able to find the strength…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 30 - What mid-life crisis?
This recording of a recent radio interview with Haafidha Rayhaanah on Radio Islam, a local community radio station, unpacks the challenges that many face in…
Tough DiscussionsBonus Clip - Anatomy vs Mental Health
I received a couple of queries from followers after I questioned the veracity of a claim regarding the nervous system’s supposed role in making us feel safe…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 029 - Are you existing or living?
We’ve lost the plot in our efforts to connect with the human struggle to create a life worth living. Our fixation on coping mechanisms to operate more…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 028 - Make life make sense
We’ve complicated life by subscribing to mental health labels that add no value to the struggles or problems that we’re trying to overcome. Instead, they only…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 027 - Empathy in relationships
Most often, our focus in relationships is on how well someone behaves towards us, and vice versa. When either partner or individual behaves badly, the focus is…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 026 - Who was toxic first?
In a time when everyone feels bold enough to label and write-off those who don’t show up the way that they want or need them to, it’s important to question…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 025 - Paying it forward in marriage
A relationship is the outcome of the two individuals in it. If there is something that either person doesn’t like about the relationship, they need to…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 024 - Who do you want to be?
While all my episodes are unscripted and impromptu, this one is particularly so. I set out without any specific topic in mind, similar to how I once used to…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 023 - Independent Women and Men's Mental Health
This interview was conducted by Gouwah Solomon on Hilaal TV, a local community TV station available on satellite networks and YouTube. While the context within…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 022 - Understand your anger
We’ve been told for so long that anger is an emotion, and that we must manage our anger, that we’ve grown to believe this to be true. What if anger isn’t an…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 021 - Is unconditional love really love?
What is our understanding of love was distorted by societal or cultural norms that convinced us that infatuation, lust, or even servitude is what love is…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 020 - Who sets the bar for you?
We decide what we think we are capable of long before we set out to achieve what we want. Everything from our dreams to our short term goals are all massively…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 019 - Was it really meant to be?
Believing that the universe is waiting to serve you is no different to believing that the world revolves around you. It is our conscious and deliberate effort…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 018 - Do you need therapy?
This is one of those topics where I am reminded that pervasive ignorance is not collective wisdom. The basis on which contemporary methods and modalities have…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 017 - The Purpose of Life
Purpose is always defined as some mystical goal of spirituality or service to humanity in a broader context of life. I disagree with that take because it…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 016 - The impact of injustice on mental health
At the heart of every source of duress is the perception of justice or fairness. We look at how we’re treated relative to what we contribute and it leaves us…
Tough DiscussionsGentle parenting and breaking generational cycles
Many are led to believe that they are here to save the next generation from the experiences that they had at the hands of the previous generation. This has…
Tough DiscussionsHow a low self-esteem creates tyrants
Our self-esteem is at the heart of our contribution towards the lives of those we cherish, and to society in general. The lower your self-esteem, the more…
Tough DiscussionsThe impact of being you
One of the most common blind spots we have in our efforts to be the ‘best version of ourselves’ is our obliviousness to the impact that we have on others. The…
Tough DiscussionsUnlearning the past
Looking to overcome the difficulties of the past requires a healthy understanding of what you took from your experiences. The unlearning process is one of the…
Tough DiscussionsWhat does healing look like?
We overcomplicate life when we create a separation from who we are by fixating on what happened to us. We create such disconnects within ourselves through many…
Tough DiscussionsThe Science of Mental Health
In our search for important answers about how life works, or how our emotions can be better regulated, we are likely to fall prey to the misplaced arguments…
Tough DiscussionsLabel Bullies
Labelling things is fine, labelling people it not fine at all. The mainstream mental health space reduces every human to a label, and then judges them based on…
Tough DiscussionsMental Madness
The volume of philosophies, modalities, and general advice from gurus, influencers, academics and self-proclaimed philosophers out there is enough to drive…
Tough DiscussionsKill the Victim
When we become defined by the experiences that overwhelmed us, we become defined as victims. And victims make the worst oppressors. It is the victim that…
Tough DiscussionsThe Big 3 - Depression, Anxiety, and Anger
The first hurdle you will face in rising above this is succumbing to the belief that you’re suffering from it. The moment you frame it as something that you’re…
Tough DiscussionsDo you feel like an imposter?
As with all problems in life, solutions only become visible or reachable when we understand the problem well enough. Unfortunately, mainstream wisdom drives us…
Tough DiscussionsThe impact of trauma
The way to overcome a traumatic experience is not to learn coping mechanisms, adopt new tools, or to simply try to create a life worth living. Overcoming…
Tough DiscussionsEpisode 003 - Confidence vs Self-Worth
Confusing confidence with self-worth or self-esteem can be disastrous. If you're choosing a life partner, or you're parenting a troubled teen, understanding…
Tough DiscussionsReclaiming our innocence
At which point did you lose your innocence in life? No, not your physical or sexual innocence, your innocence of intent or purpose. When did life first become…
Tough DiscussionsSave our sanity
Episode 001 of my new podcast series questions the mainstream narrative that we have grown to accept as the answer to understanding human nature. If mainstream…